The Invisible Backpack: An Exercise to Better Understand, Empathize With, and Make Recommendations for Supporting Employees With Their Work-Life Challenges

The ability to support employees with their mental health, well-being, and work-life challenges is an essential skill for managers in today’s and tomorrow’s workplace. The Invisible Backpack exercise, in which the instructor leads a series of group-based guided discussions with some use of visual aids, is designed to help students appreciate the importance of understanding, empathizing with, and addressing a wide range of employee concerns. Students consider the stressors in their lives and in the lives of different categories of employees. They then develop recommendations for managers and human resources professionals that address employee challenges relating to stress and well-being. The use of a metaphorical “invisible backpack1” helps students visualize these important concepts, making them more tangible and applicable to their current lives and future professional careers.